Filler valve for pulp drinks or the like



June 25, 1957 G. L. N. MEYER FILLER VALVE FOR PULP DRINKS, OR THE LIKEFiled Nov. 1, 1954 INVENTOR. 5542-13,. MEYER BY United States PatentFILLER VALVE FOR PULP DRINKS "OR THE LIKE George L. N. Meyer, Milwaukee,Wis.

Application November 1, 1954, Serial No. 465,847

15 Claims. '(Cl. 141-48) This invention relates to filler valves, andmore particularly to a filler valve especially adapted for use withbeverages containing a pulp.

In filler valves, and more particularly filler valves employingcounter-pressure above the beverage in the filler bowl, such as thepatent to George -L. N. Meyer No. 2,063,326, dated December 28, 1936, ithas been common practice to utilize a foraminous element such as ascreen, or the like, to stop the flow of liquid into the container whenthe pressure within-the container was equal to the downward pressure ofthe entering liquid.

Such a valve cannot be used to fill containers with a liquid containingpulp since the pulp would be caught by 'the screen and would clog thevalve rapidly and stop 'valve fora bottle filling machine which willautomatically stop the flow of liquid to the container when the leveltherein reaches a predetermined point.

A further object is to provide a pulp valve for a counter-pressurefilling machine which will automatically shut off the flow of liquid tothe container in the event of failure of pressure within the container.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a pulp valve for acounter-pressure filling machine which will automatically close orremain closed, in the event the container is improperly placed beneaththe valve, -to stop the liquid supply thereto.

A still further object is to provide a valve which will not clog whenfilling containers with a liquid containing pulp.

Other objects will become apparent from the following specification,which, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,illustrates a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through the center of a filler valvemade in accordance with the present inventio'n;

Fig.2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 of the liquind controlvalve with the closure member in posi- 'tion to stop the flow of liquid,with the valve element in raised position; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the liquid valve in itsnormally closed position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. l, the'fillervalve'comprises three parts, a liquid valve, generally designated 10,which controls the flow of the beverage into the container, acounter-pressure gas valve, generally designated 12, which controls theflow of counter-pressure gas in the container, and a snift valve,

between to prevent leakage.

generally designated 14, which reduces the gas pressure turn *opens intoan upwardly extending vent tube 20 formed 'on the upper end of the body16, thus providing a gas passage through both the valve body 16 and thevent tube 20.

The valve body 16 has a plurality of radiating wings 22 formed on itsexterior which contact the interior of a valve cage 24 to guide andlimit the movement upward of the valve therein.

A seal retainer 25 is received on the threaded exterior of the nippleand depends from the lower end of the valve body 16. A vpacking ring 26prevents leakage between the valve body 16 and 'the'seal retainer 25.

The lower 'end of the seal retainer 25 is provided with afrustro-conical recess which receives a somewhatsimilar'ly shaped rubbersealing element '28. A shoulder '30 of the well sloping outwardly anddownwardly and terminating in an upwardly rounded bottom. The dependingannular skirt 32 extends downwardly into the well 37 at the extremeupper limit of the travel of the valve, so that the skirt 32 forms, withthe well, a trap or an inverted siphon.

The valve cage 24 is mounted on an annular shoulde on the valve base 39with a gasket 42 interposed there- The valve cage 24 has a centralopening '45 through the top which provides for the movement of the valvebody 16 and stern '20 through the top and provides an opening to .permitmovementof liquid downwardly through the valve'10.

The opening 45 is surrounded by an upstanding-annular collar 47 whichreceivesa perforated cylindrical :guide 50. The cylindrical guide 50which forms a'guide housing for both the vent tube and a valve actuatingspring 52, is perforated, preferably with wide, elongated apertures 53to permit passage of liquid into "the liquid valve 10.

The valve stem 20=has fixedthereto a cylindrical guide 55 which operatesin the cylinder 50. The guide 55 is urged upwardly by the spring 52 sothat *the valve 10 is constantly urged into open position.

A cap valve 60 fits over the top of the vent tube 20 and has ports 61through-the cylindrical sides of the cap to permit passage ofcounter-pressure gas 'into the vent tube '20 when the cap valve 6t) israised. A spring 62 balances the weight of the cap valve 60 and urges itinto open position.

The upper end of the cap valve 60 is provided with a closure member 64which screws into the 'upper end'of the cap valve and binds apacking'65in position to-forrn a gas tight seal with the top ofthe venttube '20.

The closure member 64 has anupwardly extendingpost 66 terminating at itsupper end in an actuator button 67. The actuator button provides acontact surface for a cam follower 69, permitting the follower 69 torise and open the valve 12.

The snift valve -'14 is mounted on the exterior'of the 3 valve base 39and controls a passage leading into a central vertical aperture 70through the valve base.

A clamping member 73 has an annular shoulder 75 which receives a clampto retain the valve assembly in a filler bowl. 1 V

The clamping member 73 has a central aperture which receives a rubberbottle seal 77. The seal 77 has a nipple 79 mounted in a central openingtherein which nipple is in alinernent with the opening 70 in the valvebase to permit passage of liquid into the container St).

A vent tube 82 is mounted from the interior threads on the nipple 17 andprovides a continuous passage for gas from the valve 12 into the neck ofthe container 80.

A spreader element 84 is mounted on the vent tube 82 to deflect theliquid flowing past the valve 19 against the sides of the container andpermit gas to return from the container to the filler bowl.

Operation In operation the entire valve structure is mounted in a fillerbowl (not shown) and the bowl filled with a beverage or other liquid tobe dispensed, to a level such as A slightly below the level of thecounter-pressure gas valve 12, and air or other gas is supplied to thetop of the filler bowl above the level of the liquid to supply suitablecounter-pressure.

To operate, a container 80 is placed in position beneath the fillervalve and raised until the neck is in sealing engagement with the rubbersealing ring 77 A cam (not shown) on the exterior of the bowl thenraises the follower 69 opening the valve 60 to permit counter-pressuregas to flow down the vent tube 20 through the passage 18 in the valvebody, through the vent tube 82 into the container to place the inside ofthe container at the same pressure as. the interior of the filler bowl.

When the pressures are thus balanced the spring 52 opens the valve 10,permitting liquid to flow around the inverted siphon 37, past the valveclosure member 28, and through the passage 7t 79 onto the spreader 84.The spreader 84 deflects the liquid onto the inner surface of thecontainer 80, the liquid flowing down the inner surface of the containerto fill it.

As the container fills, the counter-pressure gas passes upwardly throughthe vent tube 82 and re-enters the top of the bowl.

It will be noted that as the liquid passes through the valve 10, itpasses through a trap or inverted siphon 37 in going around the lowerend of the skirt 32.

When the liquid rises above the level of the bottom opening 85 in thevent tube 82, gas can no longer escape from the neck of the container.Hence when liquid rises above that level, gas pressure builds up in theneck of the container which exerts pressure on the inner or dischargeside of the siphon to stopfthe flow of liquid through the siphon withthe valve 10 open.

When the filling is completed the cam (not shown) actuates the follower69 to close both the valves 10 and 12.

After the valves 10 and 12 have been closed, the snift valve 14 isopened to relieve excess pressure in the top of the container 80. Whenthe pressure within the container is reduced to atmospheric, it may beremoved from the filler for capping.

Should a bottle break or should the bottle be so misalined as to contactthe vent tube and raise the liquid valve mechanically, pressure on therubber sealing element 28 will force that element downwardly into thedistorted position shown in Fig. 2 to close the liquidvalve and preventthe escape of liquid from the bowl.

It will be noted that the above construction provides wide open passageswhich permit the filling of pulp drinks such as orange crush, etc.,without any possibility of clogging the valve. It will also be seen thatthe provision of the trap with the curved bottom provides a flushingmeans for the solid matter in the liquid which insures further againstclogging.

It will be realized that the hereinbefore described form of theinvention is to be taken merely as a preferred embodiment thereof andthat various changes in size, shape and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

That which is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by UnitedStates Letters Fatent is:

1. In a valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining solid particles, means to supply counter-pressure gas to thecontainers and to permit return of a portion of said gas as thecontainers fill, a liquid passage, an inverted siphon in said liquidpassage, a liquid control valve in said liquid passage to control theflow of liquid through said passage to said containers, and means toclose said valve automatically in response to the failure ofcounter-pressure in a container. I

2. In a valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining solid particles, means to supply counter-pressure gas intoand out of the container at a point spaced below the top thereof and tostop the flow of said gas from the container when the liquid level inthe container rises above the bottom of said means, a liquid passage, aninverted siphon in said liquid passage adapted to stop the flow ofliquid through said passage when the level of the liquid in thecontainer rises above the bottom of said first named means, a liquidcontrol valve in said liquid passage to control the flow of liquidtherethrough, and means to close said valve automatically in response tofailure of counter-pressure in a container.

3. In a valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining solid particles, means to supply counter-pressure gas to acontainer and to permit return of a portion of said gas as the containerfills, a liquid passage, an inverted siphon in said liquid passage, aliquid control valve in said liquid passage to control the flow ofliquid through said passage to said container, and means on said valveto stop the flow of liquid therepast in the event of failure ofcounter-pressure in said container.

4. In a valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining solid particles, means to supply counter-pressure gas to acontainer and to permit return of a portion of said gas as the containerfills, a liquid passage, an inverted siphon in said liquid passage, aliquid control valve in said liquid passage to control the flow ofliquid through said passage to said container, and a rubber sealingelement on said valve adapted to deform in the event of failure ofcounter-pressure in the container to stop the flow of liquid therepast.

S. In a valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining solid particles, means to supply counter-pressure gas intoand out of the container at a point spaced below the top thereof and tostop the fiow of said gas from the container when the liquid level inthe container rises above the bottom of said means, a liquid passage, aninverted siphon in said liquid passage adapted to stop the flow ofliquid through said passage when the level of the liquid in thecontainer rises above the bottom of said first named means, a liquidcontrol valve in said liquid passage to control the flow of liquidtherethrough, and means on said valve to stop the flow of liquidtherepast in the event of failure of counter-pressure in said container.

6. In a valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining solid particles, means to supply counter-pressure gas intoand out of the container at a point spaced below the top thereof and tostop the flow of said gas from the container when the liquid level inthe container rises above the bottom of said means, a liquid passage, aninverted siphon in said liquid passage adapted to stop the flow ofliquid through said passage when the level of the liquid in thecontainer rises above the bottom of said first named means, a liquidcontrol valve in said liquid passage to control the flow of liquidtherethrough, and a rubber sealing element on said valve adapted todeform in the event of failure of counter-pressure in the container tostop the flow of liquid therepast.

7. In a counter-pressure filter valve mechanism adapted to fillcontainers with a liquid containing solid particles, a vent tube adaptedto supply counter-pressure gas into and out of a container to be filledfrom a source to a point spaced below the top of said container, a valveon said vent tube to control the flow of counter-pressure gastherethrough, a liquid passage to supply the liquid to the container, aninverted siphon in said passage adapted to stop the flow of liquidthrough the passage when the level of liquid in the container risesabove the lower end of the vent tube, a liquid control valve in saidliquid passage to control the flow of liquid therethrough, and means toclose said valve automatically in response to failure of counterpressurein a container.

8. In a counter-pressure filler valve mechanism adapted to fillcontainers with a liquid containing solid particles, a vent tube adaptedto supply counter-pressure gas into and out of a container to be filledfrom a source to a point spaced below the top of said container, a valveon said vent tube to control the flow of counter-pressure gastherethrough, a liquid passage to supply the liquid to the container, aninverted siphon in said passage adapted to stop the flow of liquidthrough the passage when the level of liquid in the container risesabove the lower end of the vent tube, a liquid control valve in saidliquid passage to control the flow of liquid therethrough, and a rubbersealing element on said valve adapted to deform in the event of failureof pressure within the container to stop the flow of liquid therepast.

9. In a filler valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining particles of solid matter, a liquid passage, an invertedsiphon in said liquid passage, a valve in said liquid passage, means toopen said valve to permit the flow of liquid therethrough, and means tocreate a gas pressure on the discharge side of said siphon to stop theflow of liquid through said liquid passage independently of said valve.

10. In a filler valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining particles of solid matter, a liquid passage, a liquid valveto control the flow of liquid through said passage, an inverted siphonincluding a portion of said valve in said passage, and means to create agas pressure on the discharge end of said siphon at the conclusion ofthe liquid filling operation to stop the flow of liquid through saidpassage independently of said valve.

11. A filler valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining particles of solid matter, a liquid passage, a liquid valveto control the flow of liquid through said passage, an inverted siphonincluding a portion of said valve concentric with said valve, and meansto create a gas pressure on the discharge side of the siphon at theconclusion of the liquid filling operation to stop the flow of liquidthrough said siphon independently of the filler valve.

12. A valve mechanism as described in claim 11 including means to closethe liquid valve and means to release the excess gas pressure subsequentto said closing.

13. In a filler valve mechanism adapted to fill containers with a liquidcontaining particles of solid matter, a valve base having an annularupwardly concave recess in the upper surface thereof and a concentricliquid passage therethrough, a valve seat on the inner annular face ofsaid recess, a valve mounted above said recess and concentric therewith,a depending skirt extending into said recess and forming therewith anannular inverted siphon for the passage of liquid therethrough, means tocreate a gas pressure on the discharge side of said siphon to stop theflow of liquid therethrough, and means to seat the valve on the seatafter the flow of liquid through the siphon ceases.

14. A counter-pressure filler valve mechanism adapted to fill containerswith a liquid containing particles of solid material, comprising, 'aliquid valve base having an annular upwardly concave recess in the uppersurface and a concentric liquid passage therethrough, a valve seatadjacent the inner edge of the recess, a valve element mounted abovesaid recess and concentric therewith, a depending skirt extending intosaid recess and forming therewith an annular inverted siphon for thepassage of liquid therethrough, -a vent tube carried by said valveelement and adapted to supply counter-pressure gas to the container atsubstantially the filled level therein whereby the gas trapped above theliquid level creates a pressure on the discharge side of the invertedsiphon to stop the flow of liquid, and means to close the said valve.

15. A counter-pressure filler valve mechanism as described in claim 14in which the depending skirt is of deformable material and is adapted todeform upon failure of counter-pressure in the container to stop theflow of liquid through the valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS438,708 Pointer Oct. 21, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS 206 Great Britain Ian. 4,1904

